UC Santa Barbara's historic 2025 season remains alive after clinching a pair of elimination game wins over Arizona State 4-3 (10 inn.) and (RV) San Diego State, 5-4 in the 2025 NCAA Softball Championship in the Los Angeles Regional on Saturday afternoon at Easton Stadium.  

The Gauchos earned their first set of NCAA Championship victories in program history en route to earning a spot in the team's first ever regional final.  

UC Santa Barbara (35-25) now advances to the Los Angeles Regional Final with a rematch against host-site and No. 9 seeded UCLA tomorrow, Sunday May 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Gauchos will have to defeat the Bruins twice to advance to their first-ever Super Regional.  

UC Santa Barbara 4, Arizona State 3 (10 innings)

Box Score | Interactive Bracket | UCSB Presser
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The drama fell in favor of UCSB in the 10th inning when Alexa Sams reached first base after being hit by a pitch. From there, the outfielder advanced to second off a wild pitch. The next at bat, Delania Ma'ae smashed a single towards the ASU shortstop in the bottom of the 10th, but a throwing error sent Sams to home plate and give the Gauchos the 4-3 walk-off win. After the matchup, UCSB is now a perfect 5-0 in extra inning contests during the 2025 campaign.  
 

UCSB trailed 0-3 in the fifth inning before Erin Mendoza energized the UCSB offense by singling down right field. Jazzy Santos notched a single in the same frame before Giselle Mejia sent Mendoza home. Lucy Morgan would enter the contest and pinch run for Mejia, recording another score for the Gauchos as Santos plated another run after Teysha Banks belted a double to right centerfield. 

A pitcher's duel took place for the remainder of the matchup as Big West Championship MVP Malaya Johnson went the distance tossing 149 pitches in all 10 innings across 2.74 ERA and five strikeouts  

Banks led the Blue and Gold with a hit, two RBI, and a pair of walks alongside a .303 batting average.  

With the win, the Gauchos will play 30 minutes after this contest and compete in its second elimination game of the NCAA against (RV) San Diego State who edged ASU, 3-2 in Game 2 of the Los Angeles Regional.  

 

 

UC Santa Barbara 7, (RV) San Diego State (8 innings)

Box Score | Interactive Bracket | UCSB Presser
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Gauchos gained an early 2-0 lead after the first inning following a 2 RBI single by Fuentes.  

In the bottom of the third, Kylie Decker detonated a three-run shot into left center that put the Aztecs ahead 3-2. 

UCSB responded with a big-time leadoff swing from Santos that went yard down left field, sending home three Gauchos to make the count 5-2.  

After finding two more scores, SDSU was able to send the tying run across the plate  

Elicia Acosta led off extra innings with a deep solo shot down right field to make the game 6-5. Following the go-ahead homer, Ma'ae smacked the freshman's eighth double of the year, reaching second base with no outs. Santos added an insurance run after knocking an RBI up the middle that managed to advance Makayla Newsom, making the mark 7-5. A trio of Gauchos garnered multi hit (2) games in Fuentes, Mejia and Santos. Banks and Ainsley Waddell also notched a peice in the postseason victory. In the circle, Johnson pitched all eight frames only allowing five hits while punching out four. 

From there, the Aztecs recorded their 13th hit of the game, but it was not enough as Johnson shut the door on the comeback bid and sealed the deal with a strikeout.

 

UC Santa Barbara (35-25) now advances to the Los Angeles Regional Final with a rematch against host-site and No. 9 seeded UCLA tomorrow, Sunday May 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Gauchos will have to defeat the Bruins twice to advance to their first-ever Super Regional.